BY MIKE PETTINELLA
Genesee County Spartans
Genesee County Spartans Head Coach Harry Rascoe is looking at this Saturday’s playoff game against the Buffalo Stampede as a chance to turn around a frustrating Northeastern Football Alliance semipro season marked by injuries to key players and close losses.
The third-ranked Spartans, 3-5, will take on the No. 2 Stampede, 5-3, in a AA Division semifinal matchup at 3 p.m. at Lockport’s Exchange Club Field at Outwater Park.
The two teams met on May 31 in South Buffalo with the home team rallying from a 17-0 deficit to edge Genesee County by an 18-17 score.
“Just as was the case in a couple of our other tough defeats, we controlled most of the game but made some late mistakes against Buffalo,” Rascoe said following the team’s practice session on Tuesday. “But we’re fully healthy for this Saturday’s game and we’re set to give it everything we’ve got.”
Rascoe said the playoff game is an opportunity for the Spartans to “wipe the slate clean” and show that the team – which went 7-3 last season – is better than this year’s record indicates. The Spartans have been off since defeating visiting Lake Erie, 13-0, on July 26 to secure a playoff berth.
Aiden Pitts will start at quarterback, Rascoe said, but Corey Turpin, who broke his collarbone in a loss to the Upstate Predators six weeks ago, has been cleared to play and could see some action. Turpin was having a stellar season before the injury and still is ranked in the top three in passing.
Rascoe said that several of his top performers will be playing on both sides of the ball and that he has installed “a few new wrinkles” on offense.
“We’re going with our best,” he added.
Six Spartans have been selected as league all-stars. They are tight end Logan Pike, wide receiver Deyonci Farley, defensive back/running back Jzon Henderson (special teams), defensive lineman Ryley Elliott, linebacker Marley English and defensive back Cory Wenner.
The other AA Division semifinal, set for Saturday night, pits the No. 4 Ithaca Warriors, 3-5, at the No. 1 Watertown Red & Black, 6-2.
If the Spartans win and Ithaca wins, the title match will be at Pembroke Town Park on Aug. 16. If the Spartans win and Watertown wins, Genesee County would travel to Watertown on that date.
The AAA Division championship game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday in Lockport with the host Wildcats squaring off against the Upstate Predators. Defending champion Lockport is 8-0 while Upstate is 6-1 with its only blemish a 12-6 loss to Lockport on June 14.